A man accused of killing four university students in Idaho in 2022 is expected to plead guilty in a deal that would spare him the death penalty, according to U.S. media reports. Bryan Kohberger, a 30-year-old former criminology graduate student at Washington State University, was charged with fatally stabbing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, just before Thanksgiving.
Though the Latah County prosecutor’s office has not confirmed the plea deal, relatives of Kaylee Goncalves stated on Facebook that the agreement is real and expressed anger at Idaho authorities for pursuing it. Reports say Kohberger will plead guilty to all four murder charges, waive his rights to appeal, and be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A hearing for the plea is reportedly set for Wednesday.
Moscow Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson wrote to the victims’ families saying the plea deal aims to deliver justice while sparing them years of legal uncertainty. He emphasized that the agreement ensures a conviction and a life sentence with no chance of parole.
Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania weeks after the killings, with investigators citing DNA evidence found on a knife sheath at the crime scene. A search of his family’s home turned up a knife, a Glock pistol, black gloves, a hat, and a face mask. His defense team has challenged the DNA evidence and successfully argued for a change of trial venue due to concerns about local jury bias. However, they failed to get the death penalty removed, even after presenting an autism diagnosis.
Idaho allows capital punishment but has not carried out an execution since 2012. The case drew national attention due to its brutality and the lack of initial leads.
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